My Top Reads and Watches of 2023
Another year, another best-of recap! With American screenwriters and actors fighting for fair contracts in 2023, the media and entertainment industry has seen better days. But I’m grateful for the talent that brings our favorite stories to life, and I wish the best for creative professionals everywhere as we move forward into the new year.
So, let’s dive into my favorite reads and watches of 2023. And if you want to receive my recommendations more than once per year, follow me on Instagram and subscribe to this newsletter.
Top 10 Fiction
Much to my amazement, I crushed my reading goals and completed over 80 books this year. It was way too difficult to narrow the list down to an ultimate top 10, so I’ve got one for fiction and another for nonfiction.
While their publication dates vary, here are the best books I read in 2023. Click the titles to see my full reviews on Instagram, and comment below to share your thoughts.
Preferential Treatment by Heather Guerre (2022). When I read this in February, I guessed it would be my favorite book of the year, and I was right. This progressive billionaire romance made me literally squeal with delight and catapulted Guerre into the god tier of all-time favorite authors.
A Perfect Vintage by Chelsea Fagan (2023). I’ve been following Fagan of Financial Diet fame for a decade now, so I couldn’t be more excited for her fiction debut. More women’s fiction than romance, this book spoke directly to me with its love story between a childfree career woman and a sexy, younger Frenchman.
Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni (2023). When I heard Voskuni was a fellow Bay Area-based Armenian American, I had to make her my friend. This debut not only has the most gorgeous cover I’ve ever seen, but it also celebrates a culture that doesn’t get nearly enough love.
Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum (2023). Someone I respect put it best when it comes to the appeal of ‘rich people problems:’ There’s something fascinating about the people who have everything and yet nothing at all. These bad summer people may be the worst, but reading about them was the best.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (2019). This mega-bestseller sets the standard of rom-coms that are actually laugh-out-loud funny. This year’s film adaptation couldn’t compare, but that’s only because the book shines so bright.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang (2023). Kuang puts the stigma against unlikeable female characters to the test with this first-person thriller featuring someone disturbingly engrossing. You’ll be so captivated that you’ll consume this book in one sitting.
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean (2010). I’m kicking myself for procrastinating on this histrom classic for so long, and I can see why it’s considered one of the very best. Nine Rules is a lesson in delayed gratitude, both on and off the page.
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey (2021). This book has the most high-concept hook I’ve heard all year: what if your spouse cheated on you with your own clone? With its grounded sci-fi, philosophical bent, and complex characters, The Echo Wife is like a feminist Never Let Me Go on steroids.
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2016). Love triangles aren’t usually my cup of tea, but TJR is a force to be reckoned with, and for good reason. Every book of hers is a masterclass in narrative structure, and it’s my goal next year to get through the rest of her backlist.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (2020). Sometimes a book’s subject matter is so heavy you have to put it down, but I’m glad I picked this one back up again. This heartfelt, speculative story is introspective without turning into a saccharine morality tale, so if you struggle with mental health, you’ll appreciate its themes.
Top 10 Nonfiction
If I had to describe my nonfiction interests, it would encompass celebrity gossip, pop culture, and sociological studies with wit and charm. Bonus points if the author narrates the audiobook as well!
Tacky: Love Letters to the Worst Culture We Have to Offer by Rax King (2021). If you've ever been called a basic bitch, this hilarious and heartfelt essay collection is for you, celebrating everything from Creed to the Cheesecake Factory.
The World’s Worst Assistant by Sona Movsesian (2022). Suffice it to say, if you’re Armenian, I want to hear your story—especially if you’re the longtime assistant to one of Hollywood’s favorite late-night hosts.
Quietly Hostile: Essays by Samantha Irby (2023). Irby’s an auto-buy author for me, and perhaps the funniest writer I’ve read in a long time. I’m already counting down the days until her next book.
“You Just Need to Lose Weight” and 19 Other Myths About Fat People by Aubrey Gordon (2023). If you aren’t already listening to Gordon’s podcast Maintenance Phase, I can’t help you, but this book is a fantastic introduction to fat activism.
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah (2016). If you’re over nepo babies and typical Hollywood privilege, Noah’s memoir is memorable in the best way. He reflects on his childhood with nuance and grace, and watching him perform live this month was the icing on the cake.
Leslie F*cking Jones by Leslie Jones (2023). As Jones herself puts it, she’s undeniable. Another celeb who had to work ten times harder to get the recognition she deserves, she makes you root for her from start to finish.
Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career by Kristi Coulter (2023). As someone who has also girlbossed too close to the sun, I deeply related to Coulter’s trials and tribulations in the tech industry.
Where Are Your Boys Tonight? The Oral History of Emo’s Mainstream Explosion (1999-2008) by Chris Payne (2023). You know you’re getting old when your favorite music gets its own oral history, but Payne’s interviews are a delightful blast to the past, revealing the early days of bands like Fall Out Boy, Paramore, and Panic! at the Disco.
Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto by Zachary Zane (2023). Sex columnists hold a special place in my heart, and I learned a ton from Zane’s experiences as a bi, polyamorous expert in all things X-rated.
Here for It; Or, How to Save Your Soul in America: Essays by R. Eric Thomas (2020). If you could bottle joy, R. Eric Thomas’ books would be the container. If I got the chance to bring these authors together, the vibes would be immaculate.
Top 10 TV Shows & Movies
Normally, I’d separate films and TV series, but 2023 wasn’t the best year for new entertainment, so I read a ton more than I watched. But for the few standouts, they delivered in spades.
Here are my top watches of the year.
Barbie by Warner Bros. Pictures. Like most folks, I wasn’t expecting a movie about merchandise to be SO GOOD. I hope Hollywood is listening because content made specifically for women brings in the big bucks.
Succession, season 4, on HBO. Succession managed to not only stick the landing in its final season but also skyrocket itself into my favorite shows of all time. If my future novels sound like Roman/Gerri fanfiction, that’s because they will be.
Poker Face on Peacock. I’m too much of a scaredy cat to enjoy grisly crime shows, but cozy mysteries and murder-of-the-weeks hit the spot. Poker Face is a fresh take on the hot genre.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes by Lionsgate. I love a good villain origin story, and this fantastic prequel gets the bitter taste of Mockingjay out of my mouth.
No Hard Feelings by Sony Pictures. I wouldn’t call this a rom-com, but it’s still a hilarious story with a satisfyingly happy ending. It’s already on my list of rewatchable comfort movies.
Joy Ride by Lionsgate. I can’t say it enough: more raunchy comedies featuring women of color, please! You’ll laugh, and then you’ll cry during this celebration of female friendship.
Silo on Apple TV+. Despite being based on a short story, I’ll admit this dystopian drama has a slow start. But once it picks up steam, you’ll race through each episode to get your questions answered. Let’s hope it doesn’t go the way of Lost and leave viewers disappointed in the end.
The Afterparty, season 2, on Apple TV+. I’m deeply disappointed this show was canceled, but since each season is standalone, I'm still including it in my top ten. I love watching this whodunnit through the lens of different film genres.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on Netflix. It’s been an excruciating wait for season 3, but this prequel is a worthy stopgap. Be warned that it’s a love story, not a romance, and it’s got too much torture for my liking, but the chemistry between Charlotte and George is palpable. Just keep your Kleenex close!
How to Get Rich on Netflix. There were plenty of docuseries that almost made my top ten, but this one took the lead. Ramit Sethi is my favorite personal finance expert because anyone who takes unapologetic stabs at real estate agents, insurance salespeople, MLM scammers, and crypto nuts gets my vote.
Buh-Bye to 2023
The end of the year is the perfect time to catch up on all the content you missed, so let me know what else I should read and watch before the ball drops!
Comment below with your recommendations, and if you’re feeling especially generous this holiday season, please share Grumpy + Sunshine with a bookish friend who needs more romance rants & raves in their life.
Take care, and I’ll see you all in 2024!
Has Jennifer Lawrence ever made a bad movie? This probably isn't a shocker, but Silver Linings Playbook is one of my favorite romance movies of all time.